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Why Expand Engagement? • Identifying and addressing community priorities requires that community members have access to the processes where the local government's priorities are set. • Building on community assets requires a strong understanding what those community assets are and how to build on them. • Innovation expands where diverse perspectives come together! • Integrating new community members is essential for economic prosperity. That means making sure all community members are able to engage In local government. Guiding Questions for Expanding Engagement ()Who's In the room? Who's not In the room? Who's speaking? Who's not speaking? Who's being heard? Who's not being heard? ()What are the barriers to effective participation? If we don't know what the barriers are, do we ask? Are our public spaces accessible and welcoming? Do we go to where people already or do we expect them to come to us? ()Do we provide diverse engagement opportunities, In diverse formats, In diverse spaces, and, when necessary, In diverse languages? Do we provide leadership training opportunities for community members? ()Do we communicate In multiple formats, spaces, and languages? If we don't know the best ways to communicate and engage with a given segment of the community, do we go to them and ask what the best ways are? Star -Level Exam Provide diversity, equity, inclusion, & bias training for city staff, electeds, and volunteers; provide ADA and reasonable accommodation training for department heads & managers; develop an equity statement that addresses the city's overarching goals; include an equity chapter in the Comprehensive Plan. ples � Participate in a process that pro- motes equity in local government, such as becoming a member of 6ARE; take multiple concrete steps to increase accessibility of local government operations & decision making, such as by providing childcare for public meetings; host- ing participation opportunities in multiple & accessible locations, formats, &/or languages; ensuring that city communications are available in languages spoken by community members; review & assess city regulations for their impacts on underrepresented pop- ulations; address equity through- out the Comprehensive Plan. Mml A committee/commission with wide community representation exists & meets regularly to provide ongoing guidance to city government on expanding & improving the quality of community engagement, particularly among historically marginalized community members; regular repor- ting on progress made in ensuring equitable access to city government programs, planning, budgeting & decision -making; develop & adopt a community equity plan with ample opportunity for public engagement & participation; use Equitable Deve- lopment Scorecard or an equivalent tool to assess development or redevelopment proposals.